USDA says corn harvest 11% complete, soy 9%; ratings decline

By Julie Ingwersen

CHICAGO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. corn harvest was 11% complete by Sunday and the soybean harvest was 9% finished, government data showed on Monday, behind most analysts' expectations but matching the five-year averages for both crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture rated 66% of the corn crop in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from last week and in line with the average estimate among 11 analysts surveyed in a Reuters poll. Despite the decline, the corn ratings were still the highest for this time of year since 2018.

Soybean ratings fell to 61% good-to-excellent, down 2 percentage points from last week, while analysts on average had expected only a 1-point drop. A year ago, 64% of the soybean crop was rated good-to-excellent.

Dry conditions have been expanding in the Midwest crop belt, pushing crops to maturity. But scattered rains crossed the region last week, slowing the pace of harvesting in states like Iowa, the largest U.S. corn producer.

"Last week, many areas of the state received several rounds of rain, which tapped the brakes on fall field work," Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a statement.

"Upcoming forecasts show a switch back to warmer and drier conditions through the end of September. Farmers who have corn and soybeans ready to go will likely take full advantage," Naig said.

The U.S. is the world's largest exporter of corn and the No. 2 soybean supplier after Brazil.

Farmers continue to seed the U.S. winter wheat crop that will be harvested in 2026. The USDA said winter wheat planting was 20% complete, behind the five-year average of 23% and the average analyst estimate of 22%.

Meanwhile, the harvest of the 2025 spring wheat crop is nearly done, with 96% complete. The figure matched the five-year average pace but lagged the average analyst estimate of 97% complete.

All figures in percent: